分类： politics

A significant political confrontation has erupted in Trinidad and Tobago regarding diplomatic rhetoric surrounding US-Venezuela tensions. Government Minister Barry Padarath has vehemently rejected opposition senator Dr. Amery Browne’s appeal for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to moderate her language concerning the nation’s position on Caribbean geopolitical affairs.

Padarath, serving as both Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and Government Whip, issued a formal statement characterizing Browne’s criticism as “a profound mischaracterization of the Prime Minister’s statements” and “a startling display of selective outrage.” The minister accused the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) of longstanding “political contamination” of national discourse through hostile rhetoric.

The government’s response highlighted what it described as a pattern of hypocrisy, noting Browne’s silence when former PNM leader Dr. Keith Rowley allegedly used derogatory terms including ‘jamette’ to reference women, made comparisons between golf courses and women, referred to citizens as ‘hyenas,’ and employed racially charged language.

Padarath established clear conditions for rhetorical moderation, stating the Prime Minister would “cool it” only when specific national security improvements occur: reduction in murders, cessation of illegal firearms flow, dismantling of drug trafficking networks, eradication of human trafficking, and enhanced public safety for all citizens regardless of background.

In rebuttal, Browne condemned what he characterized as the government’s adoption of “the worst aspects of vicious politics,” citing “gas-lighting, distractions, toxic language, and baseless allegations” as standard practice among governing party officials. The opposition senator expressed concern about governmental indifference to societal polarization exacerbated by discriminatory employment practices and rising food prices, creating palpable tension among the population.

Agriculture Minister Ravi Ratiram has confirmed that the appointment of a new governing board for the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB) is progressing, though the process has encountered unexpected delays due to rigorous Cabinet-level vetting procedures. The minister made these statements following a ceremonial distribution of Brazilian green dwarf coconut seedlings at the Central Experiment Station in Centeno on December 1.

Minister Ratiram emphasized that multiple proposed board configurations have undergone Cabinet review in recent weeks, with each candidate subjected to comprehensive background verification and eligibility assessments. “The Cabinet, under the Prime Minister’s leadership, ensures all board appointees fully meet statutory requirements,” Ratiram stated, acknowledging the time-consuming nature of these mandatory checks.

The future board’s mandate will encompass establishing policy direction, strategic oversight, and addressing operational challenges including workforce management issues. While expressing urgency for the board’s installation, Ratiram declined to specify particular matters awaiting board attention, preferring to let the incoming directors address them upon formal appointment.

Regarding agricultural concerns beyond the banking sector, Minister Ratiram directly addressed circulating rumors about fertilizer shortages affecting rice cultivation. He categorically dismissed these claims, asserting that multiple fertilizer varieties remain commercially available and that ministry researchers are actively evaluating optimal formulations for current crops.

The minister revealed that the rice industry is currently in replanting phase following recent harvests, with seed distribution already completed. While acknowledging some concerns regarding germination rates, Ratiram confirmed ongoing collaboration between the ministry and relevant boards to address these agricultural challenges.

Ratiram concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to agricultural development, highlighting ongoing support programs ranging from genetic seed improvement to water management initiatives and extension services.

Independent Senator Dr. Marlene Attzs has issued a stark warning to the Trinidad and Tobago government, cautioning against abdicating its fundamental responsibility for public safety through the proposed Home Invasion (Self-Defence and Defence of Property) Bill, 2025. During Senate deliberations on December 2, Attzs challenged the administration’s approach to combating crime, arguing that the legislation effectively shifts the burden of security from the state to ordinary citizens.

The senator directly addressed previous comments by government senator Dr. Kirk Meighoo regarding the UNC’s campaign promise to reduce crime by 50% over five years. ‘The government cannot retreat from the battle it was elected to fight,’ Attzs declared, emphasizing that public safety constitutes an essential public good that must be delivered by the state rather than privatized.

Attzs characterized the proposed stand-your-ground legislation as potentially signaling ‘a quiet retreat by the state from perhaps its most fundamental duty.’ She interpreted the bill’s underlying message as essentially telling citizens that the government acknowledges the mammoth scale of the crime problem and cannot guarantee public safety, thereby transferring the responsibility for self-defense to individuals.

The senator expressed particular concern about the legislation potentially creating a ‘license to kill’ mentality, contradicting government descriptions of the bill as empowering citizens. ‘This is not empowerment,’ Attzs argued. ‘It is the privatization of violence and the outsourcing of the state’s most sacred duty to thousands of frightened, untrained, unsupported individuals.’

Attzs further warned that the legislation would transform safety from a guaranteed public right into a ‘private gamble,’ replacing organized state-managed security with ad-hoc household-by-household defense. She noted the particular danger of disproportionate impact, explaining that ‘when violence is privatized, it is not privatized evenly,’ with resource-rich individuals able to fortify themselves while marginalized communities become more vulnerable.

Citing international research, Attzs highlighted that stand-your-ground laws typically increase rather than reduce crime rates and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. She also questioned the timing of the legislation, noting it emerges amid a ‘troubling policy vacuum’ without a coherent national crime strategy and while criminal justice institutions remain ‘on some kind of life support.’

While expressing empathy for government senator Brian Baig’s personal experience with home invasion trauma, Attzs cautioned that fear-based narratives should not form the foundation of lawmaking. The Senate continues its debate on the controversial legislation, which has sparked significant discussion about the state’s role in ensuring public safety.

Seven months into its administration, the current government faces mounting criticism for its failure to establish transparent governance practices and meaningful citizen engagement. Prominent voices in civil society are raising fundamental concerns about the administration’s communication style and decision-making processes, which many characterize as opaque, unilateral, and disruptive.

A particularly troubling example cited involves the Tobago radar controversy, where the Prime Minister’s inconsistent explanations regarding national security matters have eroded public trust. The frequent shifts in official narratives have left citizens questioning whether critical decisions are being guided by a coherent and responsible strategic framework.

Simultaneously, the cultural sector is experiencing significant distress due to the abrupt implementation of noise-pollution regulations affecting major events, including Carnival festivities. With merely three months’ notice before implementation, event organizers and businesses face unnecessary logistical and financial pressure. Stakeholders argue that any policy changes of this magnitude should have initiated multi-year planning discussions, ideally with implementation targeted for 2027 rather than immediate enforcement.

The steelpan community represents another casualty of this governance approach. The unexpected withdrawal of state sponsorship from several steelbands—executed without prior consultation or warning—has jeopardized an essential component of the nation’s cultural identity. Even Pan Trinbago’s president, Beverly Ramsey-Moore, has publicly expressed dismay at the poorly timed and unilateral nature of this decision, noting that explanations only followed after the fact.

These patterns demonstrate a governing methodology that prioritizes announcement over consultation, creating an environment where citizens feel treated as obstacles rather than partners in national development. As the administration approaches its eighth month in power, there remains a conspicuous absence of the clear communication and strategic direction that form the foundation of effective governance. While advocates acknowledge that course correction remains possible, they emphasize that transparent dialogue, honest leadership, and genuine citizen partnership must become immediate priorities.

The Trinidad and Tobago Parliament demonstrates unprecedented legislative momentum as both the House of Representatives and Senate convene simultaneously for the second time within a week. This unusual frequency of concurrent sessions at the recently renovated Red House signals the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration’s determined push to advance its comprehensive governance agenda.

Despite government whip Barry Padarath and opposition whip Marvin Gonzales downplaying the significance of dual chamber meetings, statistical evidence reveals remarkable parliamentary activity. The current administration has conducted 27 legislative sessions across both chambers during its initial seven months—nearly matching the entire output of the first Keith Rowley administration during the same period. This accelerated pace becomes particularly notable considering the August recess that interrupted the government’s early months.

Today’s parliamentary agenda features critical deliberations on the Finance Bill (distinct from the Appropriation Bill) and proposed amendments to the Virtual Assets and Virtual Assets Service Providers Bill. Simultaneously, senators continue examining the controversial Home Invasion (Self-Defence and Defence of Property) Bill, which cleared the House on November 26 with 23 supporting votes against 10 objections.

The self-defence legislation has generated particular scrutiny after the Attorney General’s Ministry removed initial special majority requirements, raising concerns among lawmakers about potential dilution of the bill’s original intent. This development represents another crucial test of the government’s ability to fulfill campaign promises, following June’s successful passage of legislation revoking Stuart Young’s prime ministerial pension and October’s constitutional right to speedy trial declaration.

The administration’s expansive legislative program has already produced significant reforms including abolition of the TTRA, modifications to the Children’s Life Fund, citizenship law revisions, FATF compliance measures, and enhanced powers for Justice of the Peace officials. However, opposition figures like Colm Imbert have expressed concerns about inadequate review periods for proposed legislation.

While parliamentarians may consider dual sessions routine, citizens increasingly expect tangible results from their elected representatives, transforming these proceedings from ordinary parliamentary business into a critical measure of governmental effectiveness and promise-keeping.

In a spirited defense of Trinidad and Tobago’s leadership, citizen Patricia Blades has voiced strong support for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her United National Congress (UNC) administration through a published letter to Newsday. The correspondence comes as the government navigates complex governance decisions following their April electoral victory.

The letter emphasizes the extraordinary challenges facing the administration in what the author describes as ‘a world gone mad,’ acknowledging the difficult choices required in the current global climate. Blades specifically addresses the proliferation of unverified information circulating through social media platforms, warning that even if government secrets were publicly exposed, the accuracy of such information would remain questionable.

Blades characterizes the UNC’s position as facing a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ scenario, noting criticism from various sectors including Tobago representatives, opposition parties, and economic experts. Despite these multifaceted challenges, the author asserts that only Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar possesses the legitimate authority to act on behalf of the nation.

The letter concludes with a personal appeal for divine support, expressing prayers for the Prime Minister to obtain both the strength and capability to properly execute her duties during this demanding period of national leadership.

In a landmark judicial decision, Trinidad and Tobago’s High Court has mandated the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs to pay over $10 million in combined damages to brothers Prakash and Adesh Maharaj. The ruling concludes a twelve-year legal battle that began with the ministry’s unlawful suspension of the brothers’ de facto retail marketing licenses in 2012, which forced the abrupt closure of their service stations and denied them access to their properties.

Master Wrenerson Lochan presided over the damages assessment, which followed a series of appellate decisions culminating in a 2020 Privy Council ruling that found the ministry had acted beyond its statutory authority. The court determined that the brothers held valid de facto licenses through consistent payment and acceptance of annual fees, establishing that the ministry possessed no lawful power to suspend their operations.

The judgment detailed how ministry officials executed sudden shutdowns of both the Fyzabad and King’s Wharf stations in late 2012, publicly accusing the brothers of petroleum regulation breaches and impropriety without due process. The closures received significant media attention, severely damaging the Maharajs’ business reputations. The court found that state agents took possession of the premises, posted security guards, and denied the brothers access to their equipment, business records, and inventory without undertaking proper safeguarding measures.

In his assessment, Master Lochan accepted the comprehensive expert analysis of chartered accountant Larry Ramoutar, who calculated losses spanning fuel and non-fuel profits, fixed assets, inventory, and operational float money. The State notably failed to present countervailing expert evidence or challenge Ramoutar’s methodology through cross-examination.

The final award includes $9,257,894 in compensatory damages divided between the brothers, $300,000 in vindicatory damages, approximately $1.58 million in accrued interest at 5% annually from 2022-2025, and an additional $250,000 collectively for distress and anguish stemming from reputational harm and financial hardship. The court characterized the ministry’s handling of the properties as “deeply concerning” and emphasized that the substantial awards serve both to compensate the claimants and deter future governmental overreach.

The ruling establishes significant precedent regarding state accountability, with Master Lochan noting that “citizens reasonably expect that no officer of the state would arbitrarily interfere with their property without embarking upon a process of law, one which is procedurally fair and consistent with natural justice.”

The Innovative Democratic Alliance (IDA) has terminated its association with prospective candidate Tevin Duke following his criminal conviction for repeatedly violating a protective order. Dr. Denise Tsoiafatt Angus, political leader of the Tobago-based party, confirmed the immediate removal of Duke as their intended representative for the Belle Garden/Glamorgan constituency.

The development emerged just days after the IDA unveiled its candidate list for the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections scheduled for January 12. Upon learning of Duke’s sentencing on December 3, the party convened an emergency executive meeting to address the situation.

In an official statement released on December 4, the IDA emphasized its commitment to integrity, accountability, and public safety as core values that necessitated swift action. The party expressed particular concern about the nature of the offense, noting that violations of protective orders involving family safety represent serious breaches of trust.

The 30-year-old Tobago farmer received a three-month, 24-day prison sentence after pleading guilty to his third violation of a protection order. Magistrate Avion Gill of the Scarborough Second Court handed down the sentence on December 3, with court records indicating Duke had previously served two jail terms for similar offenses.

The IDA has initiated its internal ethical review process and is currently vetting two potential replacement candidates. Party officials indicated a new candidate for the district would be announced shortly to ensure adequate representation for Belle Garden/Glamorgan constituents.

While acknowledging the regrettable nature of the incident, the party maintains its focus on the upcoming THA elections, reaffirming its commitment to protecting women, families, and vulnerable individuals across Tobago.